Should you buy an HD thermal device?

Navigating the cutting edge of thermal imaging can be exhilarating, especially with the buzz around the newest generation of HD thermal monoculars, scopes, and binoculars. As Cape Thermal, we're here to help you understand the exciting advancements and crucial caveats, no matter where you are in the world.

The Rise of HD Thermal: A Resolution Revolution

For years, the gold standard in high-performance thermal sensors was largely 640x512 pixels, offering a solid 50Hz frame rate and a sensitivity (NETD) of less than 18mK. This resolution provided excellent imagery for a wide range of applications.

However, the past year or two have seen a significant leap forward. Several popular manufacturers, including those we proudly offer, have begun releasing handheld thermal devices with impressive sensor resolutions in the region of 1024x768 or even 1280x1024 pixels. This represents a massive increase in thermal resolution, promising incredibly detailed imagery compared to the previous 640x512 standard.

The Catch: Understanding the Compromises

While the jump to HD resolution is undeniably exciting, it's vital for buyers to understand that this technological leap often comes with trade-offs. The pursuit of higher pixel counts has, in some cases, led to compromises in other critical performance areas, specifically frame rate and NETD (Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference).

Let's look at some real-world examples:

• HikMicro Habrok HX60L Multi-Spectrum Thermal Binoculars: These binoculars boast an astounding thermal resolution of 1280x1024 pixels! This is truly remarkable for capturing incredibly detailed thermal imagery. However, this massive increase in resolution comes at a cost: the device operates at a 25Hz frame rate, which is a 50% loss compared to the previous 50Hz standard. This means the image might appear less fluid, particularly when tracking fast-moving objects.
  
  
• Pulsar Telos Series: Pulsar has introduced the Telos, an innovative concept for a modular thermal monocular. Their vision is revolutionary: allowing users to upgrade specific components as thermal technology evolves, rather than replacing the entire device. If Pulsar can consistently deliver on this modularity and support, it could indeed mark a significant shift in consumer product manufacturing as a whole.
  
  
• The "HD" offering within the Telos line, specifically the Telos XL50, features a 1024x768 pixel thermal resolution, a substantial improvement over the 640x512 "king-of-the-hill" generation. But still 524,288 pixels less then the Nocpix Vista. 
  
  
• The NETD (sensitivity) on the HD Telos XL50 is  <20mK, compared to the exceptional <18mK on the Telos XP50. A higher mK value means the sensor is less sensitive to minute temperature differences, potentially affecting image clarity in subtle scenarios.
  
  
• Despite this, the Pulsar Telos impressively maintains a 50Hz frame rate at this higher resolution, which is a fantastic achievement.
  
  
• A note for our South African customers: At the time of writing, stock availability for new Pulsar equipment in South Africa is limited, with no clear outline for new arrivals. We've had to refund substantial orders.
  
  
• NocPix (an InfiRay Technologies brand) - Vista Range: The Vista series from NocPix represents the newest wave of HD thermal devices discussed here, making minimal compromises. These thermal monoculars offer a superb 1280x1024 pixel thermal resolution, a 12-micrometer pixel pitch, an excellent 60Hz frame rate, and an incredibly upgraded NETD of <15mK. This combination of high resolution, sensitivity, and smooth frame rate is truly impressive. Additionally, NocPix includes features like optional Laser Rangefinders (LRF) and a 2K display as standard.

The Bottom Line: Do Your Homework

The moral of the story is clear: before jumping on the "HD thermal hype train," it's crucial to double-check the full specifications. While a higher resolution is appealing, understand what you might be sacrificing in terms of frame rate or thermal sensitivity (NETD).

For those in South Africa, we at Cape Thermal are always here to help demystify these specifications and guide you to the perfect device for your application. Don't hesitate to contact us for personalised assistance.

You can also use our helpful thermal detection calculator tool to understand how different specifications might impact your detection capabilities: https://shop.capethermal.com/pages/dri-calculator